The Old Karoo Pioneering Trail

Pretoria to Cape Town (3 Days) Cape Town to Pretoria (3 Days)

For many visitors to South Africa, there is no finer way to see the country than on the popular 48-hour weekly journeys between Pretoria and Cape Town. Cape Town offers a blend of cosmopolitan city life, magnificent mountains and superlative wine lands, while the twin cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg form the economic heartland of South Africa and the ideal departure point for Mpumalanga’s world-famous Game Reserves. This 1600-kilometre journey is a perfect illustration of South Africa as a world in one country. Travel the windswept grasslands of the gold rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo, the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic wine lands of the Cape to the Mother City of South Africa, Cape Town, cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain, Devils’ Peak and Lions Head. Highlights of the north and southbound routes include a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein. This authentic, perfectly preserved Victorian Village, which was founded by Mr. Logan as a refreshment stop in 1890, also boasts an impressive museum on the Station platform. A stop is also made in Kimberley with an opportunity to enjoy a city tour, the Mine Museum and visit the world’s largest man-made excavation, the ‘Big Hole’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretoria to Cape Town (3 Days)

Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday

15h00: Depart Rovos Rail’s private Capital Park Station aboard the Pride of Africa.

Wednesday/ Thursday/Saturday
 
10h00:     Arrive in Kimberley. Passengers visit the Big Hole and the Diamond Museum.
12h30:     Depart from Kimberley and proceed overnight via De Aar and Beaufort West for Matjiesfontein.

Thursday/Friday/Sunday

08h15:     Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein
10h30:     Depart Matjiesfontein and proceed via Touws River, De Doorns and Worcester to Cape Town.
18h00:     Arrive Cape Town Station, Platform 24.

Cape Town to Pretoria (3 Days)

Monday/Saturday/Tuesday

11h00:     Depart from Platform 23 at Cape Town Station and proceed inland to Worcester.
18h00:     Upon arrival at Matjiesfontein guests may visit this quaint, historical village.
19h00:     Depart Matjiesfontein.
19h30:     Dinner is served in the dining car/s.

Tuesday/Sunday/Wednesday

14h30: Upon arrival in Kimberley board the buses for a tour of the Big Hole and museum

Wednesday/Monday/Thursday

12h00:     Arrive at Rovos Rail’s Capital Park Station, Pretoria

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretoria to Durban (3 Days)

Friday

10h00:     The Pride Of Africa departs Rovos Rail’s Station in Capital Park.
18h30:     After descending the spectacular Drakensberg Escarpment the train arrives in Waterval Onder.

Saturday

07h00:     Breakfast is served as the train departs Malelane Travelling along the border of the Kruger Park.
12h30: Lunch is served as we pass through the
Swaziland border en route to Mpaka station.
15h00: Arrive Mkhaya Reserve for an afternoon game
Drive.
18h15: The train departs for the overnight journey to Hluhluwe in Zululand.

Sunday

05h00:     Wake up call for an early morning game drive in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, home of the black and white rhino.
09h30:     Depart for Durban.
11h00:     Brunch is served in the dining car/s.
18h00:     Arrive Durban.

Durban to Pretoria (3 Days)

Monday

10h00:      The Pride Of Africa departs from Durban Station.
13h00:     Lunch is served as the train passes through the
rolling hills and cane-fields of Kwazulu Natal.
19h30:     Dinner is served as we pass through the Swaziland border.

Tuesday

05h00:     Wake up call for an early game drive in the Mkhaya Game Reserve.
09h30:     The train departs for Komatipoort
11h00:     Brunch is served in the dining car/s.
15h15:     Arrive Malelane for game drive in the Kruger Park.
19h30:     Dinner is served in the dining car/s.

Wednesday

07h00:     Breakfast is served as the train begins the ascent from Waterval Onder (1 310ms) and climbs this most attractive escarpment route up to Belfast at 1 970ms.
12h30:     Lunch is served as the train departs Witbank and heads for Rayton where a steam engine will haul the train into Pretoria.
15h30:     Arrive Rovos Rail’s Capital Park Station, Pretoria.

Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed

RATE ONE WAY per person sharing includes accommodation, meals and excursions during the train journey, as well as alcoholic beverages whilst on board the train

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“The Pride of Africa” on Safari"

Pretoria to Durban (3 Days)Durban to Pretoria (3 Days)

An Unforgettable Journey into the Heart of the African Bush
This three-day safari on the most luxurious train in the world includes game drives in two varied and unique game reserves. Experience the diversity of the Kruger Park, or Mkhaya in Swaziland, or Hluhluwe Nature Reserve in Zululand and wind your way from Pretoria to Durban through some of the most spectacular scenery South Africa has to offer.

Pretoria to Durban (3 Days)
Friday

10h00:     The Pride Of Africa departs Rovos Rail’s Station in Capital Park.
18h30:     After descending the spectacular Drakensberg Escarpment the train arrives in Waterval Onder.

Saturday

07h00:     Breakfast is served as the train departs Malelane
Travelling along the border of the Kruger Park.
12h30: Lunch is served as we pass through the
Swaziland border en route to Mpaka station.
15h00: Arrive Mkhaya Reserve for an afternoon game
Drive.
18h15: The train departs for the overnight journey to Hluhluwe in Zululand.

Sunday

05h00:     Wake up call for an early morning game drive in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, home of the black and white rhino.
09h30:     Depart for Durban.
11h00:     Brunch is served in the dining car/s.
18h00:     Arrive Durban.

Durban to Pretoria (3 Days)
Monday

10h00:      The Pride Of Africa departs from Durban Station.
13h00:     Lunch is served as the train passes through the
rolling hills and cane-fields of Kwazulu Natal.
19h30:     Dinner is served as we pass through the Swaziland border.

Tuesday

05h00:     Wake up call for an early game drive in the Mkhaya Game Reserve.
09h30:     The train departs for Komatipoort
11h00:     Brunch is served in the dining car/s.
15h15:     Arrive Malelane for game drive in the Kruger Park.
19h30:     Dinner is served in the dining car/s.

Wednesday

07h00:     Breakfast is served as the train begins the ascent from Waterval Onder (1 310ms) and climbs this most attractive escarpment route up to Belfast at 1 970ms.
12h30:     Lunch is served as the train departs Witbank and heads for Rayton where a steam engine will haul the train into Pretoria.
15h30:     Arrive Rovos Rail’s Capital Park Station, Pretoria.

Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed Departure dates are specific. Please check with a consultant for departure dates or contact Info@lyontours.co.za. RATE ONE WAY per person sharing includes accommodation, meals and excursions during the train journey, as well as alcoholic beverages whilst on board the train

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The scenic beauty of the Garden Route

Cape Town to George (2 Days) George to Cape Town (2 Days)

This spectacular 550-kilometre 24-hour trip runs between Cape Town and George during the summer months and is rated one of the most beautiful in the world. From the Mother City the train, with the Hex River Mountains as a backdrop, travels through the Tulbagh Valley towards Worcester. Grapes are grown in vast quantities in this area, and apart from several co-operative wine cellars, there are a number of brandy distilleries. The KWV Brandy Distillery is visited on the George to Cape Town leg. The train continues along the Breë River Valley towards Robertson, home of the largest brandy distillery in southern Africa, and then onto Ashton, largest producer in the southern hemisphere of canned fruit, jams and vegetables. On the Cape Town to George leg a stop is made to sample the wines of a local wine estate. Then it is on towards the coast passing through stations such as Merwepoort, and South Africa’s third oldest town, Swellendam. Leaving the coast behind the train passes near Mossel Bay, a commercial seaport that enjoyed a boom in the 1990’s due to the discovery of offshore oil. George is a quiet inland town, founded in 1811 and named after King George 111.

Cape Town to George (2 Days)

Friday
09h20:     Depart from Cape Town Station,
Platform 23.
13h00:     Lunch is served in the dining car/s as we head towards Worcester.
15h30:     Arrive in Ashton for a wine tasting excursion
19h30:     Dinner is served in the dining car/s as we travel towards Voorbaai.

Saturday

07h00:     Breakfast is served as we pass through the quaintly named towns of Kleinbrakrivier and
Grootbrakrivier
09h00: The Pride of Africa arrives in George

George to Cape Town (2 Days)

Saturday
13h30:     Depart George on Rovos Rail. Lunch is
served in the dining car/s as we pass through the quaintly named towns of Grootbrakrivier and Kleinbrakrivier.
19h30:     Dinner is served in the dining car/s.

Sunday

11h00:     Arrive Worcester where guests enjoy a guided tour of KWV Brandy Distillers.
13h00:     Lunch is served in the dining car/s as we depart from Worcester.
17h00:     The Pride of Africa arrives on Platform 24 Cape Town Station

Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteedDeparture dates are specific. Please check the website for departure dates or contact info@lyontours.co.za. RATE ONE WAY per person sharing includes accommodation, meals and excursions during the train journey, as well as alcoholic beverages whilst on board the train